PUENTES

July 11, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with (WSNM) White Sands National Monument Chief of Interpretation, Becky Wiles Burghart to give us a brief history of WSNM, the world’s largest gypsum dune field, covering 275 square miles over the Chihuahuan Desert in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico. The monument can be enjoyed all year-round. They receive approximately 490,000 visitors a year from around the world and locally. Enjoy a Full Moon Night on Saturday, July 12 at 8:30 p.m.

July 5, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Executive Director of Ngage New Mexico, Frank Rene Lopez. He has over 20 years’ experience working with nonprofit and community organizations, and is also an experienced attorney and former educator.

June 27, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with (NMSU) New Mexico State University Associate Professor, Dr. Anita Hernandez. She was recently selected as the Coordinator of the Children’s Choice Awards, and also has been NMSU’s Kidd Literacy Chair in the College of Education for four years.

June 21, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Owner and Publisher of “Southwest Senior,” Keith Whelpley, to talk to us about seniors and an active senior friendly community. He is also the co-host of “Speak Up, Las Cruces” on KOBE 1450AM.

June 6, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, bridges to the community, Emily Guerra revisits with the Mexico Bureau Chief for the Dallas Morning News and Author of “Midnight in Mexico: A Reporter’s Journey through a Country’s Descent into Darkness,” Alfredo Corchado; and with the Border Bureau Chief of the Albuquerque Journal, Lauren Courcy Villagran, and is also the Editor of Corchado’s “Midnight in Mexico.” He says many things have happened since the book was published in 2013.

May 30, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Distinguished Professor of History and Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Dr. Vicki L. Ruiz, award-winning scholar and educator; and author of Mexican American history.

May 24, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Business Consultant and fiction writer, J. R. “Joe” Conway, to tell us about his first book, “Greyhound Therapy,” as he says, “a good bus ride read.” His world premier book launch, signing and reception of “Greyhound Therapy” will be held on Saturday, May 31st from 3 to 5 p.m. at Casa Camino Real, home of the Border Book Festival (BBF), 314 South Tornillo Street in Las Cruces.

May 16, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with local visual artist, musician/songwriter, and numerologist Corina Gabaldón. The rich culture, mythology, and art of her Aztec/Mayan heritage were the inspiration for her paintings to promote and preserve their ancestral wisdom. By sharing their traditional indigenous beliefs and ways of life, Gabaldón hopes to bring an appreciation and awareness to the world.

May 10, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Executive Director for The Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign, Mary Feldblum; Chair of the local organizing committee, Margaret Mendoza; and Executive Committee member, Maury Castro.

April 18, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with President and Founder of Wise Latina International (WLI), Liz Chavez. Founded in 2012, WLI is a non-profit organization serving the international border area of El Paso, Texas; New Mexico; and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. WLI helps to empower and educate women of all ages and walks of life, thereby impacting their lives, families, and communities.

April 12, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Communications Manager of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, Craig Massey, third generation farmer. From past to present, farming in New Mexico can be experienced in Las Cruces at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum through various exhibits, classes and presentations. The interactive museum is on 47 acres and brings to life the 3,000-year history of farming and ranching in the Southwest to visitors from all over the world.

April 4, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Executive Director and Founder of The Great Conversation (TGC), Randy Harris. TGC began in 2010 to facilitate safe, respectful and informed community dialogue, recognizing diverse perspectives and encouraging collaborative action in “a simple circle of chairs.”

March 21, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, bridges to the community, Emily Guerra continues with part 2 of an interview with 93-year-old retired educator, historian, arts patron, community leader and State Representative, J. Paul Taylor. Still very active in the community, he talks about his home in Mesilla, the Taylor-Barela-Reynolds State Monument, and their donation to the Museum of New Mexico. Taylor takes a tour of the house and talks about his collections. His first and favorite tours are with school children.

March 14, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with 93-year-old retired educator, historian, arts patron, community leader and State Representative, J. Paul Taylor. Still very active in the community, he talks about his home in Mesilla, the Taylor-Barela-Reynolds State Monument, and their donation to the Museum of New Mexico. Taylor also recalls his involvement with the legislature and his passion for advocating for the elderly and children.

March 7, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with 95-year-old retired mine worker and labor union organizer, Arturo “Arthur” V. Flores. He was born in Deming, NM in 1918, and raised in Santa Rita and Placitas, near Hatch. He stays young by keeping active with wood sculpting; painting; reading and more.

February 28, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with life-long activist, Elisa Maria Sanchez. She was past 1990’s President and CEO of MANA, a National Latina Organization; and creator and former Director of ENLACE at New Mexico State University. Sanchez grew up in Grant County, where over 60 years ago the Empire Zinc strike took place, and then became memorialized in the film, “Salt of the Earth.” She lived both the strike and the making of the film alongside her mother, Angelina G.

February 14, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Santero Artist, Joseph Manuel Chavez. He is currently exhibiting 100 pieces of art at a One Man Show entitled “The Triumph of Faith” at the Deming Arts Center, 100 S. Gold. Because of his representation of his faith through his art, he has also been commissioned by Rev. Enrique Lopez to create a mural at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Deming.

January 31, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Executive Director of the Dona Ana Arts Council, Kathleen Albers, to talk about “For the Love Art”month in Las Cruces. Her passion for the arts is visible in all of the artistic activities in which she becomes involved.

January 17, 2014 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Executive Director, Lucas Herndon. He is an avid outdoorsman who has lived in Las Cruces most of his life and has explored the wild lands and history of the area. Herndon is also the President of the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce.

December 14, 2013 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with California Latina artist, Linda Vallejo. Her exhibit “Make ‘Em All Mexican” is currently on display at New Mexico State University Art Gallery through December 21st.

December 6, 2013 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with retired Public Health Nurse and Coordinator of the Palomas Christmas Shoe Box Project, Majie Powey from Truth or Consequences.

November 16, 2013 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Vice President of the Potter’s Guild of Las Cruces, Barbara Williams. The Guild will present its Annual Holiday Show and Sale on Friday, November 22nd from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Saturday, November 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Las Cruces Association of Realtors (LCAR), 150 E. Idaho Avenue (adjacent to Comcast). The Potter's Guild recently celebrated 31 years of operation.

October 23, 2013 - Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Vice President of U.S. Bank and Director of Las Cruces Coats for Kids, Karen Bailey to tell us about the 19th annual Coats for Kids program in Southern New Mexico.

October 12, 2013 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Vocational Rehabilitation Technician for the State of New Mexico, Jose Armendariz to talk about National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

October 5, 2013 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with award-winning filmmaker and producer of the PBS documentary series, “Latino Americans,” John J. Valadez. For the past twenty years, he has been producing and directing award-winning documentaries for PBS and CNN. He is of Mexican-American descent, born and raised in Seattle, Washington. His ancestors did not have to immigrate to America, like many families in New Mexico, the United States immigrated them.

September 13, 2013 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Artistic Producer and Founder of the Court Youth Center and Alma D’Arte Charter High School, Irene Oliver-Lewis, with the 2nd part of a two-part interview about Latino Art. In one year Oliver will be retiring, but she will not stop working. She says her focus will be on discovering hidden or untapped Latino artistic talents in our community and how the arts affect the community; how important they are for economic development; and how important they are for a creative economy.

September 7, 2013 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with Artistic Producer and Founder of the Court Youth Center and Alma D’Arte Charter High School, Irene Oliver-Lewis, in a two-part interview about Latino Art. She grew up in a multi-cultural environment in the historic Mesquite district of Las Cruces. New Mexico’s art, with strong roots in the Hispanic culture, continues to be influenced by immigrants from Mexico and Latin America, from street names to adobe architecture; the arts, dance, music and theater.